August 1, 2014 will feature a box office showdown between Guardians of the Galaxy and Fifty Shades of Grey

Now this is some serious counter-programming. Focus Features announced today that they will be premiering the big screen version of FIFTY SHADES OF GREY on August 1, 2014. That date sounds familiar because it has also been the long ago announced opening for Marvel's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY.

FIFTY SHADES OF GREY recently gained a director in NOWHERE BOY's Sam Taylor-Johnson and is being written by Kelly Marcel (SAVING MR. BANKS). No cast has been announced yet for the mommy-porn masterpiece, but since the film will not require too much pre-production or special effects, there is plenty of time to have the movie ready for the end of next summer. It is entirely possible that the cast has already been found and announcements are pending.

August does not always hold the best crop of movie releases, but with a big Marvel film and the phenomenon that is FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, this could be a major box office showdown. Much like TWILIGHT, FIFTY SHADES OF GREY has a fervent fan-base that could take away a lot of opening weekend money and buzz from what many consider Marvel's riskiest movie to date. I am pretty confident that the Schmoes reading this are going to be attending the Marvel movie over FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, but you never know. Depending on who gets cast in the erotic film and whether or not it gets an NC-17, GUARDIANS may be in trouble.